Interview by Eva Coutts

What is your graduation project about?

After researching through reading, documentaries and hearing personal experiences about how Britain applied their European Power through colonisation, leading to much of the destruction India faced, I knew I wanted my project to be based on my culture and heritage.

Many Indians immigrated to Britain in the 1950s to seek opportunities for a better life. They were known as the ‘three pound generation’, such as my maternal grandparents. My project explores the cruel racism generations of Indian immigrants, and subsequently British Indians, have endured due to the colour of our skin. My concept aims to argue against the ignorant, racially motivated remark; “go back to where you came from” with “you only built a piece of this place...the rest was us.”

I want my project to clearly and proudly voice that we deserve a seat at the table and we deserve to be recognised. I want to use this collection as a tool to educate people and celebrate the beauty and intelligence of South-Asian people through illustrated prints and silhouettes.

It is important to me that my illustration prints were created to state that South-Asian women are intelligent, powerful, dominant and in charge of their sexuality.

I am speaking up for and celebrating South-Asian women like my grandmother, my mother and myself. It is about time ethnic minorities are represented and heard.

Can you tell us about some of the things which inspire you and your work? 

I have been working on my graduate collection - my inspirations come from experience. That can be my own experiences or those who are close to me. I think the most passionate and well-executed results come when you draw on what you know as a starting point.

My main inspiration comes from my culture and heritage - growing up I was almost embarrassed of who I was because of external racially motivated actions and views. I almost denied the Indian side of myself so that I would fit in. Now, I love standing out and I am proud of who I am, I love my brown skin and culture and I always voice my opinions. I have, and will always, stand for diversity and push for diversity as a woman and woman of colour.

Have you got plans for after graduating? 

Initially my plan was to look for a job as a womenswear designer at a luxury brand in India because India is a hub of talent and skills. However, due to the horrific events in terms of Covid in India my plans have slightly shifted. I want to definitely look for a job in a womenswear luxury brand that harnesses and amplifies diverse voices; as a woman of colour wherever I end up working this will always be important to me. I love learning about other cultures and am always inspired by how different countries put their culture into western styles so I would be flexible to working abroad or in London. I love print and colour so would preferably like to work somewhere that reflects that too.